New manager Jack Ross has already secured six new signings as he looks to build his squad to push for promotion straight back to the Championship.

But there’s still one position proving a little frustrating for the new Black Cats hierarchy, and that’s up front.

Florian Kamberi and Lyle Taylor were both targeted but chose to move elsewhere, while Gavin Reilly - who was a star man in Ross’ St Mirren team last season - has joined Bristol Rovers on a free.

Jack Marriott was a sensation in League One for Peterborough last season but Posh reportedly want around £6m for him - a fee Sunderland won’t be paying for any player this summer.

It’s still early days in the transfer window, however, and with clubs returning for pre-season and the availability of more players becoming clearer, there should be plenty more strikers for Ross to run the rule over.

The ex-Hibs striker struggled last term though, and spent the second half of last term on loan at Rangers.

Cummings is well known to Ross having scored 71 goals in 150 games for Hibernian, and Ross would hope dropping to League One for a season would help the 22-year-old get to grips with English football better.

Eoin Doyle

Another former Hibernian striker, Doyle is a Preston striker but spent last season on loan at Oldham from Deepdale.

The 30-year-old scored 14 and assisted six more, proving he could certainly offer something in the third tier for Sunderland.

Like Cummings, Sunderland have been credited with interest.

Will Grigg

Will Grigg (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)

Everyone knows the name and everyone knows the song.

He lived up to it for Wigan last season, netting 26 goals and providing five assists in all competitions as the Latics won League One and had a great run in the FA Cup.

But the season before in the Championship he managed just five goals and Athletic are known to be looking for a new striker.

Could Sunderland convince Grigg playing regularly on Wearside will be better for him?

John Marquis

John Marquis is the subject of interest this summer after netting 41 goals over the course of the last two seasons at Doncaster.

Both Aberdeen and Peterborough are said to have had six-figure offers turned down, with Rovers determined to hold on to their star man.

Marquis, 26, still has two years left on his contract it’s likely to cost over £1m to prize him away.

Charlie Wyke

Wyke netted 16 for Bradford last season and is attracting interest, with the Bantams reportedly happy to sell for £1m.

Middlesbrough-born Wyke is 25 and has proven his ability to operate as a lone striker with his strength, aerial ability and finishing - which is likely to attract Ross.

Could they convince him to return to the North East?

Charlie Wyke of Bradford City (Image: 2017 Getty Images)

Tom Eaves

The 26-year-old Gillingham striker has plenty of League One experience but last term was the very first time he reached double figures.

He netted 18 last term and, like Wyke, showed his ability in the air and also in front of goal.

It’s a risk given his previous goalscoring record, but Eaves is unlikely to cost a great deal and will likely arrive full of confidence and feeling he has a point to prove.

Millwall are rumoured to be interested.

Devante Cole

Devante Cole is the son of former Sunderland striker Andrew Cole.

Graduating from Manchester City’s academy, the 23-year-old has spent the majority of his senior career playing in the lower leagues and knows them well, but is still at an age where he can develop and perhaps one day be good enough to play at a higher level.

Cole is currently at Wigan having signed from Fleetwood in January. He netted ten goals for Fleetwood before moving to Athletic but struggled to make as big an impact there with the aforementioned Grigg in such good form.

Would Wigan perhaps be more willing to sell Cole?

Ivan Toney

Ivan Toney of Newcastle

Bit of a curveball now, with the inclusion of Newcastle United striker Ivan Toney.

Joining the Magpies from Northampton Town in 2015, the 22-year-old has now had five loan spells away from Tyneside.

And while he’s impressed in nearly all of them - including twice helping Scunthorpe to the play-offs and Barnsley also - Newcastle are likely to entertain offers for the young striker who is also seemingly ready to leave permanently.

He netted 14 last term - ten of those coming in the second half of the season at Scunthorpe. And given he was not born in Newcastle, it’s highly unlikely he’d having any qualms about swapping Tyneside for Wearside if the opportunity arose.